An expanded Midwifery Group Practice (MGP) model is now in place in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven, providing more women and families with access to continuity of midwifery care.
In addition to the establishment of a new MGP service in the Shoalhaven region last year, Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District has also expanded the Wollongong MGP service.
Under the MGP model, women receive care from a known primary midwife throughout their pregnancy, labour, birth, and up to two weeks after birth. MGP midwives work as part of a team to ensure support and backup arrangements are in place, as needed.
The expanded Wollongong MGP now has a new team of five midwives providing care to women and families in the Illawarra. Each midwife has the capacity to care for up to 35 women a year through pregnancy, labour, birth and the early postpartum period.
A review of the criteria for MGP is also enabling more women with higher-level care needs to access the service, where clinically appropriate, or to stay in the program if they develop risk factors during pregnancy.
